In supplier order. Some entries may cover multiple days; optional experiences are described by the supplier.
Fly from the UK to Switzerland
Fly to Geneva, meet your tour manager and transfer by coach to Château-d'Oex. Beautifully set in a wide valley between the high Alps of the Bernese Oberland and the shores of Lake Geneva, this lovely resort was once home to British screen legend David Niven, and has a charming selection of shops, restaurants, cafes and bars, a fascinating folk museum, and even a cheese-making centre.
Settle in to your hotel, and depending on your arrival time perhaps take a stroll through the village before dinner is served.
As this is a short break, we don’t include checked-in hold luggage but do include the airline’s base-level hand luggage so you can choose how much luggage you want to add on when you check in for your flight.
Some airlines include a bag under the seat as their base luggage, others include overhead cabin bags – it varies from airline to airline – and there are always different options to increase the allowance. You may wish to add a hold bag if you anticipate buying lots of gifts at the Christmas markets or consider booking one hold bag between two people. The choice is yours, as we know everyone has different needs.
Included Montreux Christmas Market tour
Today you’ll head to Montreux on Lake Geneva, where a delightful Christmas market awaits in this chic, sophisticated town. The stalls of the market, arranged on and around the lakeshore, offer an array of locally produced goods, interesting items from across the Alps and festive Swiss treats like vin chaud and cinnamon crepes.
You’ll also be able to explore the town’s shops, or perhaps pay a visit to nearby Château Chillon, one of Switzerland’s most famous landmarks (entry payable locally), where yet more Christmas stalls stand behind the ancient battlements, before we return to the hotel for dinner.
Optional Bern city tour
Spend a relaxed day in Château-d'Oex, or join us on a trip to Switzerland’s capital city, Bern. Our journey will take us into the heart of the Bernese Oberland, past the exclusive ski resort of Gstaad, and past Lake Thun, to the banks of the River Aare.
Barely changed since medieval times, Bern is often regarded as the world’s most attractive capital city. Its UNESCO-listed old town is a maze of arcades and cobbled streets arrayed around the Zytglogge – the elaborate clock and tower that was once the city's western gate. Soak up the festive atmosphere, and explore the Christmas markets in the shadow of the city’s towering Munster cathedral and on nearby Waisenhausplatz, where you'll find seasonal food and drink, beautiful hand-made trinkets and traditional Christmas gifts available to try and buy.
Fly back to the UK
Say goodbye to Château-d'Oex, today, as we return to Geneva airport to catch the flight home.